This video showing the massive 308-wheel truck in Bihar has been shared on YouTube by Arak Vlog on their channel. It starts off with the vlogger mentioning that this particular Volvo truck, which has been carrying a vessel that arrived from Belgium, is travelling to Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh. After this, he adds that the truck has a total of 308 wheels and has been on the road for the last four months.
He firstly shows the vessel and the truck from the overbridge. However, when he goes near the vehicle, the actual scale of it can be seen in the video. The vlogger shows the bamboo sticks which have been placed on the sides to lift the wires from the road. He also shows the temporary home made for the operators of this truck within the truck. It can also be seen that a number of people stopped on the road to check out this unique truck.
As mentioned above, this massive heavy-haul truck carrying an industrial vessel is making its way towards Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh. This unusual transporter is almost 100 feet long and has a total of 308 wheels. As for the machinery that it is carrying, it weighs around 180 to 200 tonnes.
The vessel which it is carrying is made by Sulzer in Belgium, and it was transported by sea from Belgium to Paradip Port in Odisha. And from there, its long road journey towards Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh commenced four months ago. The machinery is intended for use at a sugar mill and ethanol plant in Balrampur.
It has been reported that this equipment is part of a factory project which involves the production of bioplastic materials. Now, as this vessel weighs around 180 to 200 tonnes, a normal truck cannot be used to transport it. So, because of this, a special multi-axle heavy-haul transporter is being used.
The main reason behind having 308 wheels is that the enormous weight of the machinery needs to be distributed across a very large number of wheels and axles. This helps the transporter in carrying the heavy load and still maintaining stability on the road. It is being operated by JM Baxi Heavy Logistics Company and has been specially deployed for this heavy-haul operation.
However, the massive size also means that the truck cannot travel at normal highway speeds. According to reports, it can cover only around 10 to 12 km in 24 hours. The transporter has now travelled through Jharkhand and has entered Bihar. During its journey through Bihar, it passed through areas including Rohtas, Gaya, Aurangabad and Kaimur.
It has also crossed the Mohania toll plaza in Kaimur before reaching the Bihar-Uttar Pradesh border. From there, the transporter will enter Uttar Pradesh through Chandauli before travelling towards Varanasi and eventually Balrampur.
The transportation of such a massive vessel has created a number of unusual challenges. As seen in the video, in Barun, Aurangabad, the transporter had to pass underneath a railway overbridge. For this, the railway’s high-tension power supply had to be switched off.
Train movement was also stopped temporarily during the operation for safety and technical reasons. Additionally, special arrangements and service lanes were created at certain locations to help in moving the massive transporter through the route. Authorities have also been removing roadside structures and gantry boards wherever they obstruct the vehicle’s movement.
It has been reported that the biggest challenge is expected to come in Varanasi. After entering Uttar Pradesh through Chandauli, the transporter will travel towards Varanasi on NH-19. A joint inspection by the administration and NHAI found that three foot overbridges could obstruct the vehicle’s path. Two of these are located on NH-19, while another is near the Swarved Temple in Chaubepur.
Parts of these structures will reportedly be removed temporarily to help the transporter pass. They are expected to be reconstructed after the massive vehicle has crossed the route. The heavy-haul vehicle will also travel from Dafi towards Mohansarai, where it will move onto the reverse lane.
It will then proceed via Rakhuna towards Ganjari Cricket Stadium. From the stadium, the transporter will return to its designated lane and continue along the Ring Road. It will then travel via the Harhua intersection before entering a service lane near Sandha and continuing towards the Ghazipur four-lane road.
A day-long halt is also planned at Chandauli, while another halt of around a day is expected near Harhua. These stops will help the teams to make the necessary arrangements before it continues the journey. The entire operation is being closely monitored by NHAI, police and other government departments. Two pilot vehicles are travelling ahead of the transporter, while a team of technical experts is also accompanying the consignment.